Shot With Crimson (Josephine Tey Mystery, #11)

by Nicola Upson

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Shot With Crimson is the 11th Josephine Tey mystery by Nicola Upson. Released 7th Nov 2023 by Crooked Lane Books, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

The series is written around real life history, with verifiable political and news stories of the time seamlessly interwoven into the narrative. The author's ability to place her characters peripheral to real history and really allow the reader to feel like they're there is effective, unforced, and profoundly engaging. This volume sees Josephine in Hollywood in 1939 along with her compatriot DCI Archie Penrose. As always, there are literary references, this time to du Maurier's Rebecca.

Although it's the 11th book in the series, the mystery is self-contained in this volume. There are a number of character arcs which are developed in previous books which will be spoiled by being read out of order; and the series as a whole is so well done that it will repay being read in order (but it's not strictly necessary).

Having read the series (and looking forward to new installments), one thing that has impressed me very much is the author's facility with a really well planned and executed story arc. They're all well written, enjoyable books. The dialogue is pitch perfect, the characters and setting are stellar, the writing is great, and the plot adheres to the 10 commandments of detective fiction (the reader gets all the info to 'solve' the crime, no hidden perpetrators, no heretofore hidden 'evil twins' etc etc).

The unabridged audiobook has a run time of 10 hours and 19 minutes and is beautifully read by series narrator Helen Lloyd. Her voice is well modulated, precise, and very easy to listen to. She does a virtuoso job of the wide ranging dialects for the characters and the dialogue is crisp and well delivered. Sound and production values are high quality throughout. 

Four and a half solid stars for the narrative, five for the audiobook.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.